Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/693447
40 nJuly 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS were prayers for a safe journey and the singing of the National Anthem. Of course there was the customary welcoming of fi rst-time riders affec- tionately called "FNGs" which offi - cially means "Fun New Guys" (but anyone with any military background knows what it really means). A safety briefi ng along with an explanation of the various hand sig- nals was gone over. Each route has a number of designated people to help guide and organize, and these riders are easily identifi ed by armbands and placards on their bikes. They include platoon leaders, road guards, tail gunners, chaplains, and medics. Each group also has chase trucks just in case. There is a group that handles refueling; the procedure, from what I read, is that you stay in your group and the cost is rounded up to the next dollar—no change is given. The big moment is when the rid- ers fi re up the their bikes and take off down Holt Avenue with a California Highway Patrol escort to the freeway. This is defi nitely a photo and video op moment. Many of the motorcycles were decorated with fl ags and decals for the run. Some like to say that the sound of motorcycles is the sound of free- dom and I would agree with that. If you are interested in next year's run or want to come out and show your support, information can be found at www.rftw.org. 4 color guard members. After the toast I approached one of the men, Lee Jerde. Lee is an integral part of the ultimate sacrifi ce ceremony in which he says a prayer for the fallen. Lee served in the Army in Germany from 1958–1960. "It's one of the requirements of being a member of the color guard team to be a veteran. I was drafted when I was 23 years old and spent 18 months in Germany. I just give thanks for the opportunity to serve our coun- try over there. I'm a member of the all forces honor guard at the Riverside National Cemetery. We perform a lot of outside services; we do two services a month there, so I do this year round. This holiday, Memorial Day, it's just a super honor to be part of the ceremony that gives credit to those who have given their lives for this country and I don't think there's a greater honor or greater privilege than that," said Jerde. "I've done this for about eight years now and I just love doing it and so do the people who do it with me. I think this is the most thrilling, the most hon- orable thing you can do to recognize those who have given the ultimate sac- rifi ce for this country of ours; to give their lives for it and that's what it's all about, that's what it means. We need to honor them more than that, we need to honor them every time we see them in a restaurant wearing a Navy or a U.S. Marine Corps cap. We need to walk up to them and give thanks for their ser- vice and do that year-round, and do it all the time. Those people gave every- thing," he continued. The headliner act, country music singer and songwriter, Frankie Ballard, took the stage and proceeded to rev up the crowd of hundreds of bikers and fans into overdrive. For me it was fi nally time to kick back and enjoy some live music while catching up with some old friends. Raeanon and I then proceeded to check out some vendors, we grabbed some food and a few beers before heading up to the casino to check out some more live music inside the casinos AC's lounge. Inside the lounge we met a crew from Riverside Harley-Davidson and enjoyed their company while rehydrat- ing for our journey back to downtown Riverside where we stayed the night. I even tried my luck at a few hands of blackjack and managed to walk away a couple of hundred dollars richer! We were pleasantly surprised by Riverside's historic buildings and selection of great bars and restaurants — so much so that we decided to stay in town an extra night. All in all, we had an incredible experience and made some great friends and memories along the way. If you've never experienced West Coast Thunder and don't know what it's like to ride along a route with thousands of other bikes, with crowds lining the streets cheering you on all while enjoying a police escort, you must put this experience on your bucket list. It's an experience you'll never forget. And after all, isn't that the point? 4 West Coast Thunder Continued from page 36 Run For The Wall Continued from page 35 West Coast Thunder Color Guard member Lee Jerde says a prayer during the Ultimate Sacrifi ce A West Coast Thunder participant fl ies the American fl ag with style and conviction along the police escorted route American Legion Post 835 Honor Guard